HongShan Capital survey shows tech worker burnout rises to 55.7% as AI adoption accelerates
QQQ•Survey finds rising burnout and mixed AI sentiment
HongShan Capital flagged a sharp split in 2026 tech-worker sentiment on AI, with 41% “energized” versus 24% “disoriented” or “resentful.”
- Burnout rose to 55.7% from 44.7% year-on-year; severe or complete burnout reached 26.2%.
- Career optimism fell to 48.7% from 54.8%, even as 42.6% reported high job enjoyment.
- AI boosted productivity for 82%, yet respondents increasingly described gains as faster output rather than higher quality.
- Manager effectiveness ranked as the strongest single driver of burnout; only 25.5% rated their manager as effective.
